Shloka 36

अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā

Devanagari script

क्षत्रियाणां प्रतपतां तेजसा च बलेन च | ब्राह्मणेष्वेव शाम्यन्ति तेजांसि च तपांसि च

Transliteration

kṣatriyāṇāṃ pratapatāṃ tejasā ca balena ca | brāhmaṇeṣv eva śāmyanti tejāṃsi ca tapāṃsi ca ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“即便是以王者威势炽燃的刹帝利——以光华与力量灼热如焰——一旦来到婆罗门的面前与其势域之中，其炽烈之力与苦行之热亦随之消歇。此偈强调一种伦理的层级：灵性权威与自制能平息世俗之力，使权势归于达摩，而非用于压服。”

Word by Word

• क्षत्रियाणाम्: of the Kshatriyas
• क्षत्रियाणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• प्रतपताम्: of (those) blazing/burning
• प्रतपताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-तप्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural, शतृ (present active participle)

• तेजसा: by splendor/energy
• तेजसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• बलेन: by strength
• बलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ब्राह्मणेषु: among/in the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• शाम्यन्ति: become pacified/are quenched
• Type: Verb
• Root: शम्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तेजांसि: splendors/energies
• तेजांसि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तपांसि: austerities/ascetic powers
• तपांसि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Kshatriyas
• Brahmanas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Worldly power (tejas and bala) is meant to be tempered by spiritual discipline and moral authority (represented by Brahmanas). The verse teaches that force and pride naturally quiet down in the presence of higher ethical and ascetic standards, aligning rulership with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he states a general principle: even the most formidable Kshatriyas, blazing with strength and splendor, become pacified when they come before Brahmanas—highlighting the ideal relationship between political power and spiritual guidance.